Premium
The roles of antigen‐specificity, responsiveness to transforming growth factor‐β and antigen‐presenting cell subsets in tumour‐induced expansion of regulatory T cells
Author(s) -
Coe David,
Addey Caroline,
White Matthew,
Simpson Elizabeth,
Dyson Julian,
Chai JianGuo
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.297
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1365-2567
pISSN - 0019-2805
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2567.2010.03328.x
Subject(s) - antigen , cd11c , biology , immune system , immunology , antigen presentation , antigen presenting cell , microbiology and biotechnology , antigen processing , transforming growth factor , t cell , cancer research , phenotype , biochemistry , gene
Summary In this study we investigated the impact of several factors on the expansion of natural regulatory T (nTreg) cells by tumours, including antigen specificity, transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) signalling and the antigen‐presenting cell subsets responsible for expansion. We found that antigen non‐specific expansion of nTreg cells is tumour cell line‐dependent. Although both antigen‐specific and non‐specific pathways can contribute to expansion, the migration of activated nTreg cells to tumour tissues is strictly antigen‐dependent. Intact TGF‐β signalling on nTreg cells is also essential for tumour‐induced expansion. Finally, for stimulation of resting antigen‐specific CD4 T cells, CD11c + cells purified from tumour‐draining lymph nodes were more potent than CD11b + cells, suggesting that dendritic cells are the key antigen‐presenting cell subset involved in cross‐presentation of tumour antigens. This study not only provides an in vivo system in which cross‐talk between nTreg cells and tumours can be explored but also reveals novel aspects of tumour immune evasion.